New startup executives must solve immediate problems before teaching strategy
Girish Mathrubootham · Girish Mathrubootham: Biggest Product and Pricing Lessons from Scaling to $597M in ARR | E1142 · 20VC with Harry Stebbings · Apr 19, 2024 · at 28:34
Freshworks founder Girish Mathrubootham shares his onboarding framework for newly hired executives, using an Indian fable about rescuing cows from ditches to illustrate operational priorities.
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“As a new leader, when you come with all your experience in a fast growing startup, you have to understand that there are already hundreds of cows that are falling into ditches. So if you want to be successful at Freshworks, you have to ask the question, which cow, which ditch, which means where can you help? What are the top two or three most important Priorities or problems that you can help solve, go and help those cows from the ditches. And then we will listen to you. Give us a lecture on how to prevent cows from falling into ditches.”
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